Umbrella ferrule



Jan. 12, 1960 L. 'MALIN 2,920,634

UMBRELLA FERRULE Filed July 26,k 1957 INVElyToR. -f Lows MaI/rvMun/Lidq/y, Daniels Marv/7 2,920,634 Patented Jan. 12, 1960 UnitedStates Patent' Office UMBRELLA FERRULE l imams, nmnyn, N.Y. Anneleen myza, 1951, ser-m No. y514,487 1 claim. (cl. 13s-s6) This inventionrelates to umbrellas or parasols, and more particularly to the ferrulestructures used therein on theshafts, to secure the covering material4in place. An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedclamping ferrule constructionfor an umbrella or the like, by which thefabric or covering of the umbrella may be readily attached to the shaftwith the employment of a minimum number of parts or components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedclamping ferrule for an umbrella, which is so constituted and organizedthat it may be readily removed for reuse in the event that for somereason the initial assembly and attachment of the fabric is found `to benot satisfactory.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved ferrule construction in accordance with the above, which may beeconomically fabricated on high-production equipment, so as to have aylow initial cost.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedferrule and fabric clamping construction, wherein only two parts orcomponents need be utilized to secure the fabric to the umbrella shaft.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying lthis specification, similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts wherever possible in the `severalviews, in which:

Figure l is an axial sectional view, enlarged, of an improved ferruleand clamping structure made in accordance with the invention, shown asengaged with and gripping a fabric umbrella cover.

Fig. 2 is an inside end view of the ferrule and clamping structure ofFig. 1, with portions of the fabric broken away to reveal details.

Fig. 3 Iis an end view of the ferrule component per se, as used in Figs.l and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a clamping ring constituting pan of thestructure of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view, enlarged, of a ferrule and clampingconstruction illustrating a modification of the invention.,4

Fig. 6 is a view of the inner end of -the assemblage of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is -a plan view of the clamping washer employed in the structuresof Figs. and 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary axial sectional view similar in part lto Fig. lbut illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1-4 the improved ferrule and clamping structureshown therein comprises =a ferrule component indicated generally by thenumeral 10, having a flared or tapering tubular ybody I11 the large endof which terminates in an outwardly extending annular flange 12.Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, the ange 12 is generally flat, lying ina transverse plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the ferrulebody 11.

Coopemble with the ange l12 for the purpose of 2 clamping and securing afabric or other covering 13 to the ferrule 11 and the shaft (not shown)on which the ferrule is carried, I provide a plain, fiat annular memberor ring 14, said ring having an outside diameter which is preferlablysmaller than the larger diameter of the diange .12.

The inside diameter of the ring 14 is preferably larger than the smalldiameter of the ange 12, all as may be seen from an inspection of Fig.l.

In accordance with this invention, for the purpose of securing the ring14 in clamping eng-agement with the fabric 13 `and against -the flange12, I provide inthe latter a plurality of fingers 16, shown here as sixin number, which are l-anced from the flange and struck up, as seen inFig. 1. The -ngers 16 are shown -as pointed and of triangular shape.However, it will be understood that the fingers may have any -otherconfiguration found suitable.

Referring to Fig. 3, the fingers 16 are so positioned that they may beencircled by the clamping ring 14, the said ring extending close to theouter faces of the fingers.

By making the fingers 16 pointed, I am able to apply the fabric orcovering 13 easily and quickly -to the ange 12, together with the ring`1'4 so as to cause a piercing of the fabric 13 by the fingers. This maybe readily seen from an inspection of Fig. 2.

Upon the fabric 13 being applied to the flange 112 of the ferrule, andthe ring 1'4 placed thereover with the fingers 16 projecting through thefabric, the lsaid fingers are bent radially outward, as shown lin Figs.l and 2, `thereby causing them to overlie the ring 14 and to lsecurelyhold the same in position clamping the fabric 13 against the flange 12.The large area of contact of the ring 1'4 with the fabric will securelyhold the latter, in

conjunction with the plurality of fingers 16 which pierce the fabric.Therefore, a secure attachment of the fabric 13 to -the ferrule 11 iseffected, and in consequence the `fabric will be held to any shaft onwhich the ferrule may lbe placed.

It will be understood that the fabric cover 13 is also centrally piercedin the zone surrounded by the ring 14, to enable the shaft of theumbrella to pass through the cover -and through the ferrule body 11.Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5-7, whereinthere is shown a ferrule 20 having a tapered or flared tubular bodyportion 21 provided at its large end with an outwardly extending plainannular flange 22.

For cooperation with the ange 22 I provide a clamping washer or ring 24having a plurality of sharp or pointed fingers 26 extending upward fromits inner peripheral portions, as seen in Fig. 7. The fingers 26 are sopositioned that the ange 22 of the ferrule fits snugly within them, asillustrated in Fig. 5. In assembling this ferrule structure to thefabric or cover of the umbrella, the latter is provided with a hole oropening having a size commensurate with the inside of the flange 22 ofthe ferrule. The ferrule is Ithen slipped through such opening, bringingthe ange 22 thereof against the inner marginal portions of the fabric,and thereafter the ring 24 is slipped over the ferrule and the fingers26 thereof caused to pierce and penetrate the fabric whereby theyproject beyond the ange 22. Thereafter the fingers 26 are folded or bentinward, as illustrated in Fig. 6, causing them to grip the ange 22, andby such operation the fabric 13 is securely clamped between lthe flangeand the ring.

A modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 8, wherein a ferrulebody 31 has a flange 32 provided with an inwardly rolled edge 32a. Bysuch construction there is provided a rolled surface of lthe exterior ofthe ferrule, as distinguished from the thin sharp edge of the ange 12asados; y

of the ferrule 11. Otherwise,' the structure of Fig. 8 is similar tothat kof Figs;1-4.

The improved ferrule and clamping structure as above set forth may beadvantageously constituted of sheet metal stock, Ialthough it will beunderstood that the inverition is not limited thereto,` since othersuitable materials may be employed.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a noveland improved construction `of ferrule and clamping means for securingthe cover material of an umbrella to the shaft thereof, such means beingconstituted of only two components, and being simple and economical inits construction. Moreover, I have found that such means may be easilyand quickly applied and assembled, and holds the umbrella cover,inaneffective and reliable manner at all times. If for any reason theassembly of the fabric to the ferrule structure is imperfect so thatythe components mus-t be separated, the ferrule 20 may be readilyreused, since it does not carry lthe clamping, fingers.

Variations land modifications may be made within the scope of the claim,and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

A combined ferrule and clamping structure for an umbrella or the like,comprising a tubular drawn sheet metal ferrule body adapted to be atxedtothe upper end of an umbrella shaft, said body having an enlarged,outwardly flared end Iand having lat said end an outwardly extendedsingle thickness flatl l'ange part formed integral with the ferrulebody; a flat clamping ning part juxtaposed and larranged broadside -tosaid flange pant; an umbrella cover interposed between said parts; andclamping means carried by and integral with the ange part, said clampingmeans passing through the umbrella cover, extending completely past Landoverlying and clamping the said ring part, thereby to securely hold thecover between the said parts with the partsdisposed `in adjoiningparallel planes, the said ring part being constitued as a at, planarring and said clamping means comprising@ plurality of lingers integralwith the ange part, said fingers clamping against the said ring part.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PAIENTSl304,249 Wilcox ..-V..,. Aug. 2.6,A 1884 2,475,446 Cohen A, July 5. 19492,553,440 Cathcart May 15, 19511 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,640 lItaly Apr. 17,1950

